Battery tool



F. F. PAZZANO BATTERY TooL Sept. 28, 1937.

Filed Oct. 3, 1936 Patentecl Sept. 28, y1937 uNi'rsD STATES BATTERY *roon Frederick F. Pazzano, Waltham, Mass. Application October 3, 1936,Serial No. 103,890

1* Claim.

My present invention relates to hand implenents or tools, primarily for use in installing and servicing storage batteries. VMore particularly the invention aims to provide a simple, inexpensive and convenient tool or implement especially constructed land arranged for cleaning and preparing the terminal-post holes of storage battery terminal clips, to condition the'latter for reception on battery terminal posts.

In the drawing illustrating by way of example one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 1 shows one form of the tool or implement as a whole, in association with a storage battery terminal clip;

. Fig. 2 is an expanded view, upon a larger scale, of an intermediate portion of the tool;V

Fig. 3 is a view lookingat the larger end of the clip cleaning and reaming element, shown separately; and f Fig. 4 is a View looking atthe opposite or smallerV end of said element. The hand tool or implement of my invention while susceptible of other uses is especially intendedfor use by storage battery service men, automobile mechanics, and others whose duties include the handling or servicing of storage batteries. It is common knowledge that the terminal posts and the clamping elements or clips received on the posts, for connecting the electrical conductors to them, are subject to corrosion. When originally installing such clips,'and particularly When reinstalling them after giving attention to the battery, it is desirable that the surface of the clip which is to have direct contact with the terminal post should be clean and bright, to insure proper electrical connection. Storage battery terminal posts'such as referred to are generally tapered, and the clips such .as indicated at C in Fig. 1 have their postv holes h correspondingly tapered to fit the posts. The tool of my invention is particularly although notexclusively adapted for use with terminal clips of this tapered variety.

In'the illustrated construction the tool comprises a handle 5 which may be of any convenient size and form, for example, such as usual for a chisel, screw-driver or similar hand operated tool. The handle generally is formed of wood or a composition but may be of any suitable material, preferably non-conducting of electricity. In the example shown, the handle has at its inner portion an annular rib 6 for convenience in manipulation. The inner end of the handle terminates in a connecting or tool-seating portion, preferably reduced or tapered as indicated at 1, Fig. 2.

The other or working elements of the tool are secured to and carried by the handle 5 by means of said connecting portion 1. In the illustrated instance such elements include a shank 8 the outer end of which is formed as a screw-driver blade 9, but may have any other appropriate tool formation. Preferably at least the inner portion of the shank B is squared or of other non-Circular form in cross section, for reception and holding, against turning, in a correspondingly formed central longitudinal recess in the connecting end 'i of the handle member 5, such recess extending into or through said end or into the handle proper for any desired distance.

Instead of a thin metal binding ring as commonly provided at the inner end of the handles 15 o f screw drivers and similar tools; in accordance with-my invention I employ a cleaning and reaming element ID, having a length preferably at least equal to that of the post hole h of a battery clip, such as C, Fig. 1, and constructed and arranged :O not only to serve the purposes of a ferrule but in addition having the other functions to be referred to. This element l ll is preferably of steel of good tool quality such as suitable formetal reaming, purposes. Externally it is of truncated conical 25 form. An axial recess ll extends inwardly Vfrom its larger end, adapting said element for reception with a tight driving fit upon the end 'I of the handle. l

The smaller end l2 of the cleaning and reaming element IO has a central through aperture l3 of non-circular cross section and shaped and proportioned similarly as the shank 8. As illustrated the aperture l3, the shank 8, and the central recess in the connecting end 1 of the handle are all of the same squared or rectangular form. By reason of this non-circular formation of these parts it will be seen that the shank 8 serves inV effect as a key or lock between the reamer element IO and the handle 5, preventing turning of said element relative to the handle in the course of operation of the tool, inasmuch as the reamer element has non-rotary connection with the shank 8 which in turn is non-rotatable in the handle.

The outer, conical surface of the reamer or 45 cleaning element IO, tapering in the direction away from the handle, is formed with a series of longitudinally extending pointed corrugations, fiutes or other reaming formations I4. Said formations are of an extent along the element IO at least equal to the depth or axial extent of the post holes such as I of battery terminal clip, such as indicated at C` in Fig. 1. It will be noted, particularly by reference to Figs. 3 and 4 that the pointed fiutes M have a cross-Sectional form substantially that of an isosceles triangle, disposed with their bases toward the axis of the element Ill, the flutes accordingly tapering outwardly, and the opposite side faces of each flute being approximately symmetrically arranged with reference to a radius drawn to the apex of the fiute. Hence the fiutes have no positive angle of rake but to the contrary, in the illustrated example, have a negative rake angle, minimizing the chance for injury to the operator's hand when using the tool in the manner herein referred to. Use of the tool for its cleaning and reaming function is illustrated in Fig. l, it being understood that the clamping nut n of the battery terminal clip C is backed oif sufiiciently to permit the split portions c, c of the clip to spread to any necessary extent. The tool is inserted into and through the post hole h shank end first, bringing the reamer IO into working engagementv with the inner surface of said post hole. Rotary movement of the reamer relative to the clip, by means of handle 5, is then effective to remove corroded material and furnish a bright inner wall surface for the post hole, to insure proper electrical contact with the battery terminal post. In so manipulating the tool the annular rib 6 is of assistance in furnishing inward longitudinal pressure, the operator's forefinger and thumb conveniently being positioned on the handle so as to apply downward pressure against said rib.

The outer end portion of the tool beyond the reamer end is generally in the form of a screwdriver blade such as illustrated, such instrument commonly being necessary in connection with the servicing of storage batteries, as for example in removing the floor boards of the automobile in which the battery is installed; in removing the terminal clips and for many incidental purposes. In the use of such instrument the operator's fingers conveniently may be placed lower upon the handle, beyond the rib 6 and inl engagement with the reamer element lil, in which case the corrugations or fiutes assist to prevent the operatoris hand from slipping on the tool.

From the foregoing it will be understood that in accordance with my invention I have provided a cleaning and reaming instrument, particularly suitable for the described purpose, of simple and inexpensive construction and which is mounted upon and in operative combination vvith the handle and other portions of a hand tool of a type which a battery man must necessarily use and have conveniently at hand. Thus the combination tool of my invention while of eX- tremely simple and unified construction combines the structure and functions of two sep- 'arate instruments otherwise necessary for the work referred to.

My invention is not limited to the particular embodiment thereof illustrated and described herein, its scope being set forth in the following claim.

I claim:

A tool primarily for use in installing and servicing storage batteries, comprising, in combination, a handle element of the screw-driver type, an elongated shank element of the screw-driver type extending from the inner end of the handle element, and a truncated conical member enclosing the juncture of said elements as a ferrule therefor and being securely held against turning relative to said elements, said member tapering away from the handle, in general conformity with the inner wall of a terminal post hole of a storage battery terminal clip and being formed of hard metal and having upon its outer surface a circumferential series of longitudinally extending flutes of substantially isosceles triangular form in cross section and tapering outwardly, opposite faces of each flute being approximately symmetrically disposed with reference to a radius drawn to the apex of the flute, said flutes providing means for cleaning and brightening the metal of the inner walls of post holes of battery clips as referred to and by reason of their said formation minimizing the chance for injury to the user's hand.

FREDERICK F. PAZZANO. 

